Driver sounds!

[drumon]

I'm starting to look out for a 2nd hand driver.

After paying a few visits to the range, I hear a wide range of sounds from the bays, sometimes the sound of some drivers is just deafening, like a blacksmith's anvil! ....and I dont want to have something quite so "pronounced" in the audio department.


I wonder if you can shed some light on the sounds of the following and whethere they are subtle, medium, or very loud:

Callaway Big Bertha 454
Callaway X460
Ping G2
Ping G5
Cleveland Launcher

[James_Black]

Ping G5 and G2 sound the same. Probably one of the best sounding drivers. Not too loud not quiet either.
Cleveland Launcher. A big Loud boom. Not as loud as my cobra but pretty close.

Don't know about the other 2

[keb]

I have the Callaway X460. I would characterize as sublte or medium at the loudest.

[drumon]

Thanks, this is helpful.

So the Cleveland launcher seems louder than g2, g5 or x460.

[MrKadash]

One thing I can comment on are the new Cobra drivers (ZL & S2). Although I have not hit the S2, I have hit the ZL and it is much quieter than any of the previous Cobras. My local rep told me the new S2 will be the same way. I have never owned one because of the sound (I know, piddly), but I like the new Cobra offering. FWIW.

[Shanks A Million]

Anything with a composite crown, or a square shape will be loud. As I've mentioned before, the exact reasons are extremely complicated, and there's no way I could even come close to explaining everything, but it's easy to understand a few things.

Square Drivers: Rounded drivers are parabolic in shape, and parabolas are extremely deficit at reflecting low frequencies. In order to reproduce the entire spectrum of human hearing, a parabola must be about 20 yards wide, and this would be a bit larger than the USGA limit of 460cc. Square shapes are not limited in this way, their parallel surfaces easily reflect these low frequencies. Because the lower frequencies put out by a golf club are closer to the center of our hearing (about 1-4 kHz < 100 dB), they are much more audible.

Composite Drivers: Composite crown drivers (Cobra and Cleveland) are made with a lightweight carbon top. This material is much more resonant than metal in the lower frequencies (again, center frequencies). The reason I'm not 100% sure about, but supposedly has to do with the fact that carbon fiber is does not have as much acoustic resistance, so it passes these sounds without absorbing as much of them.

[drumon]

Shanks a Million - Top quality reply!

[Dub]

I used to laugh at threads like this...until I actually owned some funky-sounding drivers. Sound was way down on my list of priorities then.

These days it's now become more of an issue because a player can get outstanding performance from so many of the top manfs heads. They can ultimately have any shaft in them, too. What does that leave you with to decide? Looks & Sound become much of the difference at this point.

Two that come to mind are one of the early versions of the Nike drivers.
I bought a used one at a local shop for a song on my way to the course.

First time I put it in play I knew it would be getting flipped soon. I never could get used to the odd tin can sound.

The other driver was an R9 460...another stick I got a very nice deal on. Driver looked and sounded great but never perfomed like I'd hoped. Maybe the shaft was just a bad fit for me. I flipped it without losing anything. No worries.

The G10 heads really sound and performed wonderfully!!!! Get the right shaft and you'll never want another driver!!!!!!! PING hit a homerun here. From what I can tell the G15 is even better...improving on perfection.

My current driver has what I consider a decent sound even for a partially composite head. It's neither loud or subtle. A good swing will make a nice impact sound...a slower swing makes for a reduced impact volume as it should. Club doesn't lie to you and tell you you've crushed when you haven't. I prefer this.

[Shanks A Million]

  Dub said:

I used to laugh at threads like this...until I actually owned some funky-sounding drivers. Sound was way down on my list of priorities then.

This is pretty much all that's left in my book. The USGA has limited COR, MOI, size, and length. Everything from here on out is just building a better mousetrap.

  None said:

My current driver has what I consider a decent sound even for a partially composite head. It's neither loud or subtle. A good swing will make a nice impact sound...a slower swing makes for a reduced impact volume as it should. Club doesn't lie to you and tell you you've crushed when you haven't. I prefer this.

My Adams is the same way. Mishit it, and it tells you, but nail it on the screws, and it sings like a very loud, very harsh canary. It's very unforgiving for a modern driver, but it's so damn long when you catch it well.

[tweaky]

  Shanks A Million said:

Anything with a composite crown, or a square shape will be loud. As I've mentioned before, the exact reasons are extremely complicated, and there's no way I could even come close to explaining everything, but it's easy to understand a few things.

I beg to differ on the square head sounding louder. My Integra Quadratic is not loud, nor "canny" sounding. Pretty much sounds like a quality driver head.

Golfsmiths Killer Bee Yellow Hornet has a soft "POP" (hard to describe in words) and feels like the face actually pushed the ball "out there"! Two very different designs and both very lively but not loud, "tinny", "canny", or "tin canny". Wishon's composite head doesn't have any adverse noise either. Maybe the "name brands" haven't quite got it yet?

[wolverine_man]

Nike Sumo - worst sounding driver ever, IMHO.

[JML22]

the hyperx from callaway is stupidly loud.
i'm hitting an 09 burner right now.... its loud in an undercover stall at the range but on the course its fine. Bit of a loud crack to it but it suits the distance you can get with it.

[sean_miller]

  drumon said:

. . . deafening, like a blacksmith's anvil!

A golf ball struck against an anvil would pretty subdued - or do you mean sombody shaping heated metal with a hammer and anvil?

Anyway, as mentioned on this forum before, Titleist drivers seem to produce a pleasing sound. I agree with the Ping G5. The Cleveland Launcher 3-wood has a nice click to it - the driver not so much.

[Gioguy21]

I've just switched out my cleveland launcher for the callaway FT-5...distinctly different and better sound comes from the callaway in my opinion. I was deaf after 5 swings with the launcher at the range...and felt embarassed when others were even near me. only other drivers IMHO that are worse are the original nike box on a stick...and cobra speed drivers. tin cans would be an understatement

[Zeph]

I'll vouch for that one. The Cobras are really loud. I like the club, it's not the sound, more the level that bothers me. I will probably let the sound be more of a factor on my next buy.

[Fastrack]

  Dub said:

I used to laugh at threads like this...until I actually owned some funky-sounding drivers. Sound was way down on my list of priorities then.

I was same....until I tested Callaway FT-i.....I didn't care how well I could hit with this as sounds were really embarrasing and displeasing, just like kicking a trash can.

[Shanks A Million]

  tweaky said:

I beg to differ on the square head sounding louder. My Integra Quadratic is not loud, nor "canny" sounding. Pretty much sounds like a quality driver head.

Many of the component companies have started using methods of dampening the sound from their square and composite drivers, as it's one of the few selling points they have over the OEMs. The major names don't really care, as they can sell clubs based on their name alone. As I said, the issue is somewhat complex, but for the most part, the composite (Cobra & Cleveland) and square (Nike Sumo², Callaway FT-i) do sound awful.

[wolverine_man]

I really don't mind a metallic "PINK" sound, I just don't like the soup can sound of some of the drivers today. I still love the sound of my old Yonex Super ADX Ti driver and my Cally Steelhead woods.